Prenatal Diagnostic Testing

Diagnostic testing can be done to identify babies at increased risk of defects.

 

Amniocentesis is an ultrasound-guided sampling of amniotic fluid. It is more accurate than chorionic villus sampling, but carries a 0.5% risk of spontaneous abortion and can injury the fetal limbs.

 

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is the biopsy of the fetal-derived chorion at 10-12 weeks. It has high sensitivity and specificity, though carries a 1-2 risk of spontaneous abortion.

AFP